Combination garden implement.



T. B. HARPER.

COMBINATION GARDEN IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. I914.

Patented Apr. 25,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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T. B. HARPER.

COMBINATION GARDEN IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, um.

Patented Apr. 25,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LIWLUUS.

Clttovmua Wilma/00m THOMAS IB. HARPER, 0F KINGSTREE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

COMBINATION GARDEN IMPLEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

Application filed May 15, 1914. Serial No. 838,783.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS B. HARPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kingstree, in the county of Williamsburg and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Garden Implements, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to implements and more particularly to acombination garden implement.

The primary object of my invention re sides in the provision of an implement having means associated therewith for attaching various earth engaging elements.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of a supporting means for a blade having means thereon for adjusting and holding the blade in a rigid position to act as either a shovel or a hoe.

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of an improved means for preventing movement of the supporting means and for clamping the blade into a position to form a shovel.

A still further object of my invention resides in the provision of an improved means carried by the handle for bracing and sup-' porting the blade when using the blade as a hoe and when working in hard ground.

A still further object of my invention resides in the provision of an implement of the character described that is simple in construction, eflicient in operation and one that can be manufactured and placed on the market at a minimum cost.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my invention showing especially the blade used as a hoe having the bracing means associated therewith; Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same showing the upper portion of the blade in section; Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of another of the ground engaging elements; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the bracing means; Fig. 6 is a side elevational view showing especially the blade used in the capacity of a shovel and the clamping means associated therewith; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the clamping elements used for holding the blade as a shovel.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar reference numerals deslgnate corresponding parts throughout the diiferent views, I provide a handle 1 having a ferrule 2 secured to the outer end thereof, the latter being provided with a transverse opening formed in the outer end thereof which has mounted therein my improved supporting frame 3 which in this lnstance consists essentially of a single piece of rod metal bent into a substantially U shaped form and comprises supporting arms 4 and 5, the vertex 6 thereof being bent into a substantial U-shaped form at a point intermediate its ends, the vertex 7 of which IS mounted within the opening in the ferrule and the arms 8 and 9 thereof arranged in close relation with the outer surface of the ferrule. The extreme outer ends of the supporting arms 4 and 5 are enlarged and flattened to provide oppositely disposed complemental serrated engaging disks 10 having al nmg openings therethrough for the receptlon of an elongated bolt 11, the latter being adapted for engagement with various earth engaging elements to be hereinafter described.

Pivotally mounted between the disks 10 by means of the bolt 11 is a blade 13 which in this instance has its side edges bent at right angles thereto to form flanges 14 which taper toward the outer edges of the blade and which blade is further provided on its opposite edges at points substantially intermediate its ends with serrated engaging disks 15, the latter being preferably formed integral with the blade and being complemental to and in engagement with the disks 12. In order to maintain the blade at various angles, I have screw-threaded a nut 16 on the free end of the bolt, thenut causing the serrated face on the disks 10 to engage the serrated faces of the disks 15 and thus prevent movement of the blade.

For the purpose of preventing movement to the supporting frame 3 and at the same time form a support for the blade when it is desired to use the same as a shovel, I have provided my improved stop member 17 which in this instance consists essentially of a ring 18 for engagement with the extreme outer end of the ferrule, the ring having extended from a portion thereof diverging arms 19, the free ends of which are bent at right angles to provide hook members 20.

further hold the blade in this position, I

have provided a clamp member 21 and removably mounted the same-by means of suitable fastening devices 22 on theouter surfaceadjacent the outer end of the ferrule. The clamp member. 21 int-his instance consists of a single strip ofinetal which is bent i-nter-mediateits ends, the free end portions thereof being arranged in parallel relation with each other, "the upper of which being provided with openings 23 for engagement with the fastening devices andthe opposite end portion being slightly diverged and adapted for engagement with the upper surface of the blade 18. V s V a When it is desired to-convert the blade into a .hoe, the clamping member '21 is removed from the ferrule 2 and the blade '13 adjusted to theproper angle by means of the nut 16. In order vto support the blade 16, especially when working in hard ground, l provide a bracing :member 2 1 which in this instance consists essentially of a single piece of'metal, 'onevend 'of which is fiattened and provided with openings 25 and which flattened end is secured'to the ferrule by means of the fastening devices :22. The

opposite end :of the member is split 'to a point I substantially intermediate its ends and the portions thereof bent in oppositedirections-and at right angles to the main portion thereof and constitute clamping arms 26 and 27, thefree-ends of whichn'ar e bent upon themselves :to form engaging hooks28 for. engagement with the oppositely disposed flanges lt on the blade 13.

When it is desired to use this implement in the capacity'of a rake either the clamping member 21 or thebracing member 2a is removed from the ferrule and the nut 16 unthreaded from the bolt *to allow the latter to be disengaged'sfrom'the blade, whereupon the rakehead generally designated 29 is clamped therein. The rake head in this instance consistsj essentially of a tubular bar 30 having-a plurality of :teeth 31 depending therefrom inuniformly spaced relation, the bar being :further provided on its outer edges about the" opening therethrough with complementa l serrated disks 32, the latter being similar in contour to the disks 10 and adapted for engagement therewith.

The operationof my device is as follows:

if Assuming that theb'ladej13 is detachedfrom the supporting frame 3,'when it isdesired to use the'blade 'in the capacity of a hoe,

the disks 15 are placed into engagement with the disks 10 and the blade arranged at a proper angle, the bolt being then passed through and the blade rigidly secured in position by means of the adjusting nut 16 on the threaded end of the bolt. me1nber'24isnow secured to the ferrule and The bracing the hook members 28 engaged upon the flanges of the blade for constituting a substantial auxiliary securing means when the 521111618 in position, the arms 22 and 27 bearing against the face of the blade. In order to-convertthe blade into ashovel, the bracing member 24 is removed and the nut 16 loosened and the upper part of the blade is swung rearwardly until it engages the arms 19 whereupon the clamping member 21 is secured in position at the same point as the guarding member 24: was secured "by means of the fastening devices 22. The arms 19 and the clamping element 21 serve as a suitable auxiliary clamp in the event that the weight he too heavy and take up great strains likely to be imparted to the blade. If it is desired to use the rake head,

the blade 13 is removed by first unscrewing the headandthe bolt 11 passedthrough the tubular bar 30 and the clamps 32 rigidly secured in position by means of the nut '16.

Although I have shown and describedthe preferred form of my invention, Iidesire .tO

be understood that Iam not limited to the exact details shown, the essential point being in the manner of converting the blade from a shovel to a hoe or vice-versa and the improved auxiliary supporting means associated with the blade and :the ihandle.

Fromthe above description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings it can easily be seenthat I have provideda device that is simple in construction containing but a few simpleparts that can be cheaply manufactured and assembled .and when assembled canbe placed uponthe market and sold at a minimum cost.

It will be understood that :the abovedescription and accompanyingidrawings comprehend only the :general .and preferred embodiment ofmy inventionand that various minor changes-in detail of construction, proportion and arrangement of the partszma-y be made within the scope of the :appended claims and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having .thus fully describedimyinvention, whatI claim as new anddesire :to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A garden implement including a handle,-a supporting frame=thereon, stop means carried bythe handle and associated with the frame for preventing movement of the frame, an earth engaging blade adj ustably carriedby theframe, and meansremovably mounted on the handle and cooperatively associated With the earth engaging blade and stop means for supporting the blade when used as a shovel.

2. A garden implement including a handle, a supporting frame mounted thereon, ,stop means carried by said handle and in engagement With said frame for preventing movement of said frame, a tool blade, complemental serrated engaging disks carried by said frame and the side edges of said tool blade, fastening means passing through said disks for facilitating the angular adjustment of said tool, and means removably carried by the handle and cooperatively associated With said blade and said stop means for supporting said blade When used as a shovel.

3. A garden implement including a handle, a substantially U-shaped supporting frame mounted on one end thereof, serrated engaging disks formed on the outer ends of said frame, a tool blade, the longitudinal edges of said blade being bent to provide flanges, serrated engaging disks formed in-- termediate the ends of said flanges, a fastening bolt passing through said engaging disks and flanges, said bolt bracing said blade, a securing element removably associated With said bolt for clamping said blade in various positions With respect to said frame, and separate means removably carried by said handle and adapted to engage with said glade for holding the blade as a shovel or 4. A garden implement including a handle, a substantially U-shaped supporting frame mounted on one end thereof, a stop member including a ring and divergent arms mounted on said handle and associated with said frame for preventing movement of the frame, a tool blade adjustably clamped on said frame, and a clamping member removably carried by said handle for holding said blade in position against said stop member When the blade is used as a shovel.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

THOMAS B. HARPER.

WVitnesses:

F. W. HARPER, L. A. ELLIOTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

